Bulls fire Cartwright

In a statement released Monday, Paxson said:

"I knew there would be difficult times in this job, but none is harder than replacing a friend. I have known Bill Cartwright as a teammate, as a colleague and as a friend for nearly as long as I’ve been in professional basketball. I admire his hard work and his efforts and loyalty here. He will always be a Bull.

"The decision to relieve Bill at this time was a basketball decision. The team is underperforming and we have to find ways to win, period. I am not satisfied with the team’s start this season and changes have to be made. This represents the first change, but not necessarily the last."

The 46-year-old Cartwright was the 15th coach in franchise history. He won three championships as a player and two as an assistant coach with Chicago under Phil Jackson.

Cartwright registered a 51-100 record as the head coach of the Bulls. He became their general on December 28, 2001, when he took over for Tim Floyd, who is now the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets.

Over a 15-year playing career, including six with the Bulls, Cartwright averaged 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Myers came into this season as a team scout. He is currently in his fifth season with the Bulls’ basketball operations department. Myers has worked as both an assistant coach and as a member of the Bulls’ scouting staff.

Chicago will play its first game under Myers on Tuesday night in Dallas against the Mavericks.

The Bulls have lost five straight games and are just 4-10 this season.

A permanent replacement for Cartwright is expected to be named within a week.